ARTSBEAT; Shakespeare Company Names Artistic Director

By LARRY ROHTER

Published: March 23, 2012

After a six-month search for a new artistic director, the Royal Shakespeare Company has chosen Gregory Doran, who has been affiliated with the ensemble, first as an actor and then as a stage director, since 1987.

Mr. Doran has also written three Shakespeare-themed books, including the ''Shakespeare Almanac'' in 2009, and contributed to several programs about Shakespeare for the BBC and the British Library, activities that were cited Thursday in the formal announcement of his selection.

Most recently, Mr. Doran has been the company's chief associate director, though he has also directed other works for companies in Britain and elsewhere. He will succeed Michael Boyd, who announced in September that he and Vikki Heywood, the company's executive director, would step down in September of this year.

The post attracted what Nigel Hugill, head of the selection committee, called ''a strong field.'' But in the end, the committee decided that Mr. Doran would bring both ''a real passion and vision for the future of the company, as well as providing the continuity'' necessary to build on the esteem the Royal Shakespeare Company already enjoys, Mr. Hugill said.

As a director, Mr. Doran has staged more than half of the Shakespeare canon for the company, and this year will be directing ''Julius Caesar'' for the World Shakespeare Festival.

''I guess if my appointment represents something, it represents a long-term commitment to the disciplines and craftsmanship required to do the play of our 'Star of Poets,' William Shakespeare,'' Mr. Doran said in a statement thanking the company for giving him the opportunity to lead the company.

''My first task is to assemble an exciting new artistic team, with whom I shall start planning the company's future from 2014,'' Mr. Doran added. Ms. Heywood's post remains to be filled, and the Royal Shakespeare Company said an announcement of her successor was expected next month.

This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.